It's Safer To Know Your Herbs.

Hi Again

Herbs are fabulous plants, and having developed an interest in them many years ago, they have become established as essential within our household, for diet, cosmetic purposes, cleaning, and of cause to make safe sprays to use in the plant nursery.

During the past few weeks I have been asked on many occasions for Herbs that my clients and visitors want to use for medicinal purposes. At this point it should be stressed that many plants can be quite potent, their active properties forming many of todays drugs, from Aspirin to morphine.
So it's important to know that some herbs can be highly toxic if taken in excessive amounts.

For example, I was recently asked for Wormwood as a medicinal remedy. Wormwood is just one of the plants in the family Artemesia, which also includes Southernwood or Lads Love, and Mugwort. Southernwood has sometimes been recommended as a tonic and Mugwort for external use.

Wormwood however is one of the most bitter herbs known. It also contains an hallucinogen called Santonin, and can be extremely dangerous taken in excess, and excess can vary from person to person.

Wormwood can produce convulsions, vomiting, vertigo, cramps, and hallucination. Anyone contemplating using herbal remedies that are not readily available or widely used should talk to a Herbalist first.

All The Best And Have A Great Day
Margarete
webmaster@antspants.biz

PS.For great gift ideas as well as some unusual garden products click on the links at:

Great Gift Ideas

Nature lovers will also enjoy a visit to the nature mall, where you can find some excellent products. If you're into camping, bird watching, bird songs, butterflies or frogs, from books to binoculars there's something for everyone in this fantastic mall:

The Nature Mall

Unusual Gift And A Basket Of Flowers

Hi Again

A nice gift for family or friends is a wicker basket planted with flowers. They're easy to do, and look stunning on a balcony or patio table.
They look lovely filled with bulbs, pansies, or a colorful mix of summer annuals.

You will need:

Container

A wicker basket at least 6"(15cms)deep, 16"(40cms)wide, and 20"(50cms)long. The handle needs to be high. Seal the basket inside and out with 3-4 coats of an outdoor varnish.

Filling

Sphagnum Moss
Plastic sheet cut to fit the bottom and sides of the basket.
Quality potting soil
2-3 handfuls of coarse grit.

Preparation

1. Line the basket with the moss, work it up the sides and form a collar above the rim of the basket.

2.Cover the moss with the plastc sheet,making sure to cut slits for drainage.

3. Cover the base lining with the grit, and fill basket with 2"-3" soil.

4. Place the bulbs, plants, or seedlings into position and fill the basket with soil, firming the plants into place.

5.Water gently and top up soil to the rim. Gently tease the moss collar until it sits neatly around the basket, and trim any plastic that may still be visible.

6.Place the basket on ceramic 'feet' or small blocks to allow air circulation underneath and good drainage.

7.Keep the basket moist, and protect against frost during winter.

I found some more great gift ideas as well as some unusual garden products when I clicked on the links at:

Great Gift Ideas

Nature lovers will also enjoy a visit to the nature mall, where you can find some excellent products. If you're into camping, bird watching, bird songs, butterflies or frogs, from books to binoculars there's something for everyone in this fantastic mall:

The Nature Place

All The Best And Have A Great Day
Margarete
webmaster@antspants.biz

Beautiful Bay Trees

"Neither witch nor devil, nor thunder or lightening will hurt a man in a place where a Bay Tree is", said Culpepper. Bay trees ( Laurus nobilis ) are beautiful trees with dark, glossy, aromatic leaves that have enriched gardens for centuries.
Although Bay leaves are a favourite addition to every cooks kitchen, the tree is often difficult to obtain. Bay trees are slow growing ( I planted mine 14 years ago and it is now 18 feet high) and keep a lovely shape as they grow. They can reach grand proportions after many years, but can be cut back periodically without any adverse effect.

Bay trees are excellent grown as standards. The dark glossy foliage, and formal leaf shape gives an elegant appearance to the standard trees, which can be grown in tubs and placed each side of an entrance door to your home, in front of restaurants, hotels, or a balcony garden. Keep the tubs moist at all times, and feed occasionally with well decayed manure.

Bay leaves can be used fresh from the tree or dried. Dry the leaves by leaving them in a cool, preferably dust free, and airy place for a few days and when dry put them into an airtight jar.

Plant your Bay tree in full sun and in rich, moist and well drained soil. It will tolerate a little shade, but should be protected from winds. Protect from frost for the first 2 years of growth, or if you live in a frost area container grown plants would be better. Move inside if temperatures fall below 5F (-15C ).

Bay leaves can be harvested all year round, and have many uses.

*Add dry leaves to vinegar for added flavour.
*Place in a flour bin to deter weevils.
*Add to bath water to relieve aching muscles.
*Hang in bunches or make a wreath to sweeten the air.
*Add Dry crumbled leaves to potpourri.

Add a bay leaf to marinades,stock,pate,curry,game and poached fish liquid and remove leaf before serving.
Include in bouquet garni for soups,stews,and sauces.
Boil in milk to flavour custards and rice puddings.
You can also add leaves to your rice storage jar, to add light flavour.

A Bay tree is a delightful addition to any garden, either planted out or in a container. Please note that all laurels are poisonous with the exception of the true Bay also known as the Sweet Bay.

For more about herbs go to:

Ants Pants Gardening Newsletter

Do you love roses? Go to:

Growing healthy Roses

Great Garden Products Go to:

Specially Selected Garden Products

Until next Time Happy Gardening
Margarete

Small Water Features

Hi All

For centuries the qualities of water have been used to give life and energy to a garden. The balance of water, stone and plants was first perfected in China and Japan, and the Romans introduced graceful stair-pools, fountains and indoor water features.
Today the sound of water running over a waterfall, the reflections of sky or trees in a pool, or the flash of color and life in a fish pond, all add new and captivating dimension to a garden.
If the idea of adding a water feature to your garden is a little daunting you can always start 'small'.
Almost any container capable of holding water can make lovely accent pools when positioned correctly. A lined half barrel with goldfish and water plants fits nicely into a rustic setting, and although you will need a small filter and pump to keep the water clear, is easy and inexpensive to set up. I have seen old wheelbarrows, baths, terracotta bowls, even an old laundry sink, all used to create stunning water features, and of course there is always the tranquil look of a birdbath.

If your preference is for a small but more sculptered feature, there are elegant pedestals supporting water covered balls, small water walls, a vast array of free standing metal or stone sculptures designed to allow water to cascade over them, and
water spills to attach to courtyard walls.

It doesn't take a lot of effort or expense to create a small water feature, but placement should be considered carefully, especially if you have young children.
Water in large or small amounts can be dangerous for young children, even a pail or shallow bowl full of water can be life threatening to a toddler.

More Gardening Ideas

Until next Time, Happy Gardening
Margarete
webmaster@antspants.biz

Flowers and Fragrance

How blessed we are to have so many wonderful perfumed plants and flowers available to grow in our gardens. Most gardens have an area to display perfumed plants, allowing you to enjoy not only the beautiful perfumes drifting through your garden, but also beautiful perfumed blooms for flower arrangements inside your home.

There are however, many people especially children, with allergies to pollens and some, or all perfumed flowers. Excluding the offending plants from your display is often the safest way to protect your family or friends from the discomfort that allergies cause. In some cases, perfumed plants have been bred to provide gardeners with an abundance of the glorious blooms without the offending pollens and perfume, talk with your local nurseryman to find out if they are available in your area of the world.

For those who can have a fragant garden, there are some beautiful plants to choose from, including the wonderful bursts of red, pink, or white flowers of the timeless camellia, the star shaped flowers of the gloriously perfumed stephanotis, the perfection of the intoxicating gardenia, the lovely fragances and blooms of roses and many others.

There are plants that will only release there perfume at night, filling the night air with their magical fragrance. Some orchids are fragant but only after sunset, jasmines, night scented tobacco, the beautiful moonflower and many of the herbs, all contrive to work fragrant wonders through your garden at night.

If you don't have enough space to display your fragrant plants, you can grow them in large tubs each side of your front entrance, or display them on your balcony.

For more about fragrant plants go to:

Fragrant Plants and Flowers

The

Ants pants Gardening Newsletter

is a great way to keep up with the latest gardening news, and gardening books and products recommended by the AntsPants nursery and landscaping team.

Ants Pants Gardening Shop

Until Next Time All The best, And Happy Gardening

Margarete

Know Your Cactus...

Angelique is the 8 year old daughter of Andrew, a member of my landscaping team, and last week, during the school holiday's, I invited her to spend a day with us at the Nursery. Angelique loves plants and flowers and she was quite happy helping her dad and other staff members. During the afternoon she sat on a bench drawing pictures of her Dad working, and all the coloured flowers. Her drawings were delightful and currently adorn the walls of the staff room.
We all enjoyed having her with us, and at the end of the day I invited her to choose a plant to take home. To my surprise, she ran across to an area where we grow small cactus, and asked if she could have one for her bedroom window. Choosing the right cactus took some time, as her fascination with each one made the choice difficult. Eventually she selected a tiny Silver Ball Cactus (Notocactus scopa ) in a small terracotta pot, and proudly carried it around to show everyone.

Cactus are hardy plants and a popular choice for young children, although some plants can develop very sharp spines as they grow and it's important to choose carefully.

There are approximately 2000 members of the cactus family. They are best known for their toughness and longevity, as well as their beautiful large flowers which are often larger than the plant in the early years of growth.

Cactus can thrive in arid areas because water is stored in the stems and the spines reduce evaporation. The way the spines form add to the dramatic sculptural shapes of the plants.

While most cactuses originate from the desert, some can be found growing on trees in tropical rain forests and are spectacular in hanging baskets.

Selecting cactus for use as indoor plants has been made simple with tiny plants in attractive pots readily available in most nurseries. With the popularity of low maintenance gardens, many landscapers are using cactuses in arid garden areas, and they can look stunning. If you're planning to create a similar feature in your garden, it's important that you have some knowledge of the growing habits of the cactuses you choose, or receive advice from an experienced nursery person. Some cactus can grow to be very large as well as developing hard and extremely sharp spines that can cause serious injury. A well planned cactus garden and careful selection of plants, is better than risking injury to family, friends or pets.

Until next Time, Happy Gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

A Garden That Takes Care Of Itself ..

Hi,

Do you crave the peace and serenity of a beautiful garden, but worry about the time and expense involved in keeping it maintained?
When you’re looking at a jungle and you know that somewhere inside it your garden is hiding, the idea of having a garden that takes care of itself can seem like a dream come true.
The first attempts at low maintenance gardening most often resulted in gloomy gardens that had very little appeal. Today some of the most exciting, colorful and fragrant gardens in the world have been designed to be almost maintenance free.

Plants are now bred to be hardier and more disease resistant, making previously 'hard to grow' plants available to everyone.
With concentrated slow release fertilizers and automated watering systems, even the once time consuming job of feeding and watering has been reduced to a minimum.
The many advances in garden science and technology, as well as the exciting new garden designs from talented designers all over the world, has seen the creation of gardens that require only a small fraction of the work involved in maintaining a traditional style garden.

Careful analysis of your land area is an essential step in planning your low maintenance garden, and should include the type and condition of your soil, the sun and shade areas, high and low areas, and drainage requirements. Your own needs should also be clearly outlined.
Where possible it's better and less costly to work with what you have. For instance a low level wet area can be designed to display plants that thrive in wet boggy areas, eliminating the need to install a drainage system, while hot dry areas can display plants that thrive in arid areas reducing the need for constant watering. Good design is essential to achieving a successful low maintenance garden

With the wonderful range of design ideas as well as the hundreds of easy care plants available, planning a garden that almost takes care of itself has become a reality.


Until next time Happy Gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Try Growing Versatile African Violets

Hi Again

One of the most popular plants in the world is the African Violet. World wide, this little plant has a huge fan club, and for a lot of reasons.

African Violets flower all year, and your collection of plants can be increased easily and inexpensively by leaf cuttings.

Years ago the plant was best known for it's blue flowers and green leaves, but today African Violet has many flower and leaf groups. Some of the amazing range of flower colors include: white, pale blue, medium blue, dark blue, purple, red, pink, orchid pink, lavender blue, apricot, bicolor, and multicolor. The flower forms can be singles, doubles, semi doubles, fringed singles, fringed doubles, crested doubles, bicolor doubles, and many more. Leafs are divided into groups including the plain leaf, the girl leaf, oak leaf, quilted leaf, serrated leaf, fluted leaf, variegated leaf, black leaf, and the list goes on. Each of these different groups are in turn divided into thousands of cultivars.

African Violets are versatile plants that will grow equally as well in natural or artificial light, allowing you to grow them anywhere, from a basement to high rise unit, caravan or office, I even grow them in the bathroom.
Easily propagated from leaf, seed, or cuttings, and given just a little tender loving care these beautiful plants will reward you by brightening your home with a colorful display of flowers all year round.

Until next Time Happy Gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Did Your New Plant Really Cost That Much ?

Hi Again

I had an interesting conversation recently with an old friend that I hadn't seen for several years. For many years he had been the manager of a large retail nursery, but after making the decision to live in New Zealand, now travels looking for plant varieties to hybridize, and dream up a catchy name and design labels for. The money he claims, is in the labels.

I have to admit that as a wholesale nursery owner it's interesting to see how quickly the plants with large colorful labels sell. The bigger the label the more popular the plant. Of course most of the time it doesn't matter to the buyer that the new, big, bright, colorful labels can add substantially to the cost of the plant. The retail nurseries like the labels because the bigger and brighter the label, the more noticeable their displays are.

For growers like me there are disadvantages of course. Many of the 'new' named plants can only be grown commercially by purchasing a special license, usually very expensive, and again, adding to the cost of the end product. Then of course there is the pretty colored pots they MUST be sold in, the fancy colored sticks to hold the big bright labels, as well as the wages for staff to transfer the plants to their pretty pots and add those already costly labels before transporting to the nurseries.
In the middle of all this packaging is the now expensive little plant.

I think my friend is right, the money IS in the labels.


Until Next Time Happy Gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Vigorous Vines

With gardens today becoming smaller and more compact than in years past, avid gardeners find themselves looking to use every possible space available. This has re-newed the interest in creating vertical gardens, which in turn has led to some really good ideas for growing vegetables in small areas, as well as the innovative use of climbing plants and vines in today's garden designs.

Climbing plants and vines are versatile additions to most gardens, providing shade when grown over a pergola, porch or patio. They soften the look of a bare wall, and cover an ugly fence or shed, some even make stunning ground cover, like Jasmine or Honeysuckle. Climbing plants are also superb used indoors,especially the tropical vines.

Climbers can also be used to enhance a balcony or verandah and can block out unsightly views.

Climbing plants or leafy vines can add height, drama and interest to both outdoor and indoor gardens. Garden designers are creating visually stunning effects using large framework shapes, mirrors and vines.

Without support your climbing plants and vines will trail. In their natural habitat climbing plants have different ways of clinging to their hosts. Some, like Ivy, have aerial roots that cling to rough surfaces. Aerial roots need plenty of moisture and thrive in humid conditions.

Some plants will entwine themselves around trellis or a taught wire or string, while others will send out curly tendrils that attach themselves to any stationary object.

Most climbing plants can be trained to form beautiful espaliers, or cover small or large frameworks. For some artistic ideas using vines go to:

Most vines will grow in low as well as bright light, and will need to be trained and maintained to prevent unruly growth. The end result will be worth the extra effort.

Until next time,

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Hydroponics For Your Indoor Plants

Hydroponics- A centuries old idea for todays growers. Research into growing plants in water with added nutrients actually began in 1699, but it wasn't until the 1930's that any serious interest was taken in this method of growing plants.

I grow my indoor plants using the hydroponic method and it has been a very satisfying experience.Apart from having a wonderful array of happy healthy plants, the lightweight growing mediums allow for easy moving of even the largest pots.

The use of soil is completely eleminated. Soil is replaced by clay granules, perlite, vermiculite and pebbles.I use the self watering pots and add nutrient solution to the water. Kits are available that makes hydroponic growing very easy for beginners. You just have to follow the instructions.

If it's possible try to obtain plants that have been germinated hydroponically. You can still use soil raised plants, but the soil needs to be completely removed, and your plants will suffer as their soil grown roots die back and the new roots start to grow. I usually germinate my own seeds in vermiculite, or 'strike' cuttings in perlite.

Although there are many individual approaches to growing plants hydroponically, once you have perfected the method your plants will grow faster, bigger, and look wonderfully healthy.


All the best and happy gardening

Margarete

www.antspantsgardening.com

Herbs In The Kitchen

Visitors to my nursery often say "I would love to grow my own herbs, but I don't have a garden".
If you live in a unit or apartment you can still grow your favorite selection of herbs, and all you need is a window, balcony, or patio that has a few hours of sunshine everyday.

Herbs grow well in pots or hanging baskets, and adapt well to growing inside providing they have a sunny window.

Some of the best loved herbs for cooking are Thyme, Sage, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, Mint, Parsley, Tarragon, Lemon Balm, Chives and savory. All of these herbs look beautiful in decorative pots or hanging baskets. Sage or Rosemary need to be planted into larger pots, and the prostrate Rosemary will with regular pruning, do well in a large hanging basket.

Simple herb displays can enhance any kitchen, and one easy idea is to line a cane basket and fill with three or four pots of herbs. Pretty, matching ceramic pots and saucers, will look great on a window sill. Hanging baskets, hung at different levels and containing the trailing herbs or rounded bushy Basils, can add stunning impact to an otherwise dull window.

Use a good organic potting soil, and keep moist not wet.

Cooking with herbs that you've grown yourself is fun, and with so many different aromatic herbs available to you, why not try growing a few in your kitchen.


All the best and happy gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Fabulous Foliage Plants

As a landscaper I really love foliage plants.
Foliage plants provide our gardens with beautiful shapes, forms, textures and colors.

Plants of one species like Buxus Sempervirons (English Box) have been used for centuries as hedges, while others add architectural form and elegance to our gardens.
The larger lush foliage plants enhance the colors of flowering plants, act as a perfect back drop to delicate ferns in a fernery, and look spectacular on their own in large pots or tubs.

You can use foliage plants as living screens, or to create soft backdrops of green or texture to more flamboyant plants for a dramatic effect. With the different forms, shapes, colors and textures of foliage plants you can create areas of strong focal interest.

A selection of plants with differing leaf color and textures planted in small informal groups can be used to add points of interest in a small garden, conceal unsightly areas, or to give background color and depth to a herbaceous border.

Silver foliage plants can add a mystical charm to a garden, or teamed with red, purple, blue or yellow adds a touch of excitement and drama.

The 'architectural' foliage plants, with sword shaped leaves , large palmate or feathery fronds, and different textures are well suited to modern architecture and the trend for minimal plantings and simple forms. Textured groundcovers mass planted, with either a strong single plant or groupings of the same species, can add sculptered shape to modern designs. Flowers don't usually feature in this style of planting unless the plant itself has a particularly strong architectural form like Strelitzia (Bird Of Paradise) or Canna.

Next time you plan to make-over an area of your garden, consider using some of the beautiful foliage plants available. You can dicover more about foliage plants and some great ways to use them at

All the best and happy gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

How And When To Water Your Roses

How And When To Water Your Roses To Achieve The Best results.
Roses require regular watering to survive and flourish.
Over watering can be more damaging to your precious roses
than under watering, and finding the correct balance is important.
How much water your roses need depends on your soil and how much organic matter you have added to it. The ideal soil is rich and well drained with sufficient friability to retain moisture.
A thick layer of mulch will keep the soil from drying out quickly, and make a noticeable difference in how frequently you need to water.
If you have a 'heavy' soil extra care needs to be taken not to over water as the root systems of the plant will be deprived of oxygen and die.
Only water your roses when they require it. During periods of hot weather you will need to water more often to prevent any stress to your plants.

Automated systems programmed to water roses everyday, or sprinkler systems left on for hours are simply a waste of water. Instead just water enough to thoroughly soak the root area and then allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
Allowing the soil to dry out between watering will encourage the roots of your roses to travel downwards and outwards in search of water. This helps to prevent the fast growth of soft stems which are prone to insect attack.
The end result will be hardier plants with sturdy growth.

By encouraging your roses to exist on a low watering regime you will gain the advantage of having additional flower bud production.

When To Water
Water in the early morning or late evening.
During hot weather plants that are drooping or generally showing any signs of stress should be watered immediately.

How To Water
Always try to water your roses at ground level with drippers or gentle sprays that don't disturb the soil.
Sprinklers, sprays or hoses that water the foliage and flowers can cause problems such as 'black spot', flower wilt or water damaged petals.
When a family member or friend is watering for you, explain why it is important to avoid wetting foliage or flowers, especially during the hot weather.
Soaker hoses are ideal for 'rose gardens' or beds, where the water requirements are the same for each plant.
Irrigation systems with 'dripper heads' to each plant are also an excellent idea.
I use the drippers with adjustable heads that allow you to control the flow of water to each plant, and although the heads need to be checked from time to time as they can become blocked with soil or ants, they do perform extremely well.
Hand watering occasionally, with a hose and soft spray attachment allows you the opportunity to check the health of your plants. By checking the leaves and stems as you water you can identify any problems with pests or diseases in the early stages, before your plants suffer any damage.

Watering Roses In Pots
Roses grown in pots will need to be checked regularly to determine there watering needs, which will vary with the type of pot, the potting soil used and the size of the pot.
Terracotta and concrete pots tend to dry out more quickly than ceramic or plastic especially during hot weather. and there are many different grades of potting soil. It's best to use a good quality soil that has been prepared to suit the needs of potted roses..
Always leave enough space under your pots to allow the air to circulate and for the soil to drain properly. Try to avoid leaving your potted roses standing in saucers of water, as this will prevent the aeration of the roots, which is the cause of many plant fatalities.
Smaller pots can dry out very quickly and in hot weather may need to be watered two or three times a day.
The soil in pots will also lose nutrients quite rapidly, and a regular feeding routine needs to be implemented to keep your roses healthy.

Until Next Time
All the best and happy Rose gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Container Gardening For 'Curb Appeal'

As a landscaper I often receive requests to landscape or clean up gardens for property owners who have made a decision to sell.

A well presented garden can add $$$s to the sale value of a property. However,in many instances the all important 'curb appeal' can be achieved without a major make-over.

For easy almost instant appeal you can use a selection of different sized planter boxes or elegant pots filled with your choice of flowering plants.You can find plants in flower most of the year, so your choice will be determined by the different seasons.

Large pots can also be used to add greenery to a dull area. Camelia's, Gardenias, Conifers, Palms are just a few of the huge range of plants that will grow happily in pots, although some will need to be placed in the ground at a later date.

Planter boxes are very attractive placed on balcony's, in a porch, under windows, or on a patio. Pots or planter's can be used to frame a doorway, steps, or accent the entry of a pathway. For a formal look, large bowl shaped pots filled with flowers and set on a pedestal make a beautiful 'statement'.

Dark purple and pale violet pansies planted with white and purple alyssum makes a beautiful display, but with the vast amount of flowering plants to choose from the selection of an exciting color combination is easy and fun.

Plant your planters or pots and enjoy the resulting lush and beautiful 'instant' flower bed. Keep moist (not wet) and feed every three weeks with a liquid fertilizer.Your plants will grow quickly and completely fill your planters and pots.

Adding color to your garden this way means that once your property has been sold you can take your instant gardens with you to your new home.

All the best and happy gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Office Greenery

THE INSIDE STORY

Have your plants settled into the office environment? Are they happy, well-adjusted members of your office team? Or are they out on a limb - wilting under pressure and unable to adjust to life on the inside?

We've all heard the horror stories. "Killed by neglect" "Starved to death" "The poor thing just died"

Everyday, shut away in an office somewhere, beautiful indoor plants are suffering. Lack of light, too much or too little watering, no food, air conditioning - all take their toll.

But it doesn't have to happen. Working with plants can be a beneficial experience. With careful choice and correct positioning, an indoor plant can add a touch of class to a foyer, brighten a dull corner, or soften the austerity of a large office. Some research studies have even suggested that working with plants may increase worker productivity!

No matter what your office environment, plants provide a breath of fresh air. Large companies and hotels often rent the indoor plants that decorate their foyers and liven up the workplace.

To keep the indoor plants in your office alive and well, make sure to get some basic directions from the nursery or store where you purchase them. As a general guide - never leave your office plants sitting in water. Try to keep their leaves clean. Feed them regularly and make sure they have enough light. If providing enough natural light is a problem there are growing lights available that work extremely well.

There is a large range of indoor plants available for you to choose from, see indoor plants, and finding plants to suit your particular office shouldn't be difficult.


Until Next Time

All the best and happy gardening

Margarete

www.antspantsgardening.com

Growing Beautiful Clematis

Clematis are climbing plants with beautiful large flowers available in a range of different varieties and colors.
Clematis prefers cool climates, and you will need to choose a planting position where the roots are in the shade and the plant's growth will receive morning sun.
In hot climates, avoid planting Clematis on or near walls or fences that can become hot during the day as this will cause your plant to dry out and possibly die. Clematis don’t like having to compete for root space, so if you decide to plant them in cool areas under trees or in a shrubbery, make sure they are not to close to the tree or shrub trunks and that there is not to much competition for root space. Your Clematis will also need to be protected from hot dry winds.


Clematis need to have good drainage and the roots must be kept cool and moist during the hot weather. Poor drainage will cause Clematis to die very quickly. This plant is one of the very few that when transferring from pot to soil needs to be planted deeper than the soil level in the pot. In should be planted to the depth of the next set of nodes on the stem above the pot soil level.
During the summer weather keep the plants fed and the roots cool by first applying some well rotted cow manure and organic mulch, covered by chip or bark mulch. While your plants are establishing ensure they don’t dry out during hot weather.
Clematis can be grown in deep pots, but be sure to check that the pot has excellent drainage
During hot dry conditions, Clematis must never be allowed to dry out. During very hot conditions you may need to water twice a day. In normal summer conditions give a deep soaking 2 or 3 times a week.

Feed your Clematis late winter and again in early spring - well rotted cow manure is great, garden compost (keep away from stem), or blood and bone mixed with some potash. Clematis in pots will benefit from using a liquid fertilizer once a fortnight. Follow directions carefully.
Cease using liquid fertilizer as soon as the first tiny flower buds appear, as it can cause shortening the flowering period. Start fertilizing again after flowering.
Take care of your Clematis and you will be rewarded with a spectacular flowering display over a long duration.

All the best and happy gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

GROWING VEGETABLES IN CONTAINERS

If you live in an apartment, townhouse or unit you will probably have very little open ground space to create a vegetable garden. Fortunately some types of vegetables can be grown in pots or planter boxes, and will happily grow in a sunny position on a verandah or small patio. Tomatoes grow well in tubs or planter boxes. If you plan to grow the taller varieties of tomatoes you will need to make sure that the growing stakes are placed in the pot when the plants are first planted.
Try growing lettuce and Mignonettes, silver beet, spinach, spring onions, radishes, capsicum and carrots. I've also successfully grown snow peas, cucumber, zuchinni and egg plant in large pots.

Self-watering pots make the ideal containers to help keep vegetable plants moist during the hot weather. Light colored plastic pots and planters are the best choice for growing your vegetables as they won't dry out as quickly as the porous terracotta pots. dark colors absorb the heat.

Always use good quality potting mix and ensure that your pots have good drainage.

A layer of mulch over the top of the pot will help keep the roots cool and retain moisture longer.

Keep your plants well watered and feed regularly.

Vegetables need plenty of food, so feed them with a rich organic fertiliser.


All the best and happy vegetable gardening,

Margarete
http://www.antspantsgardening.com

Mulching

The secret to a healthy garden starts at ground level.

The difference between compost and mulch !
Compost is always thoroughly decomposed. The main purpose of compost is to release nutrients into the soil as rapidly as possible. Although many mulches decompose and become compost over time, the function of mulch is to act as a weed suppressor, and provide a barrier to protect your soil from heat, cold and frosts, as well as wind.

Experienced gardeners know the many benefits of mulching the garden.
A good mulch will;
1) Prevent the surface of the soil from drying and reduce the amount of watering required.
2) Reduce weed growth. Weeds compete with your plants for nutrients and water.
3) Add nutrients to the soil as well as improving the texture and friability as the mulch breaks down.
4) Reduce erosion, especially on banks and slopes.
5) Keep plant roots cool during summer, and help stabilize soil temperatures.
6) Protect plant roots from the damage of frost
7) If used around the base of trees and shrubs allow you to mow up to the edge of the mulch, and eliminate the damage caused to tree trunks by lawn mowers and clipping equipment.
8) Make your garden look more attractive and add to property value.

Organic mulches will decompose over time. As the mulch decomposes it will enrich and improve the soil, increase aeration of clay soils, and add water-holding capacity to sandy loam. Organic mulches also contain mineral elements essential for plant growth.

The recommended mulching depth is 21/2- 3inches (75mm). Mulch applied too thick can reduce drying and lead to water-logged soil, particularly during wet seasons or in heavy clay soils.

Even when applied at the correct depth, it's always better to keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems of your plants, especially those with woody stems or trunks, to avoid the problem of wet bark.

Your local Nursery can advise you of the best mulches to use in your area.

Until Next Time
All the best and happy gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com

Growing Healthy Roses.

How To Create the Right Soil and Conditions To Grow Healthy Roses

Roses are a beautiful addition to any garden. Whether you are planning a formal rose garden or just adding a few feature roses to your established beds, when you take the time to prepare correctly - your roses will reward you with gleaming healthy foliage and a glorious abundance of flowers.

Roses require deep, rich and well drained soil, free from weeds and plants with invasive roots. For many years it was believed that roses preferred clay soil to sandy soil. The truth is they cannot tolerate the overly wet conditions that occur in heavy clay soils, and light sandy soils drain and dry out to quickly, leaving the roses in dry, and depending where you live, possibly hot soil.

Testing Drainage In Clay Soil.The main problem with heavy soil is poor drainage. A simple way to check whether your clay soil has a drainage problem is by digging a narrow hole 30-35cms deep, run water into it for approx. 15mins.letting it overflow around the hole. If the drainage is adequate the water will disappear from the hole. If the hole is still full of water after an hour there is a drainage problem.

To further check, dig the same hole to twice the depth the following day. If the subsoil is waterlogged, you have a drainage problem that needs correcting. If you have clay soil and have not taken any measures to correct problems, you may need to allow a few months of preparation before you even consider growing roses. Although there are no 'quick fixes' for drainage problems, a quicker solution is to lay underground drainage pipes or raise the level of the beds.

Correcting Poor Drainage In Clay Soil. You can correct poor drainage by adding large quantities of organic matter and if the soil is really heavy, consider using a clay breaker, like gypsum as well. Digging is a great way to aerate the soil, but only dig when the soil is dry as digging into wet clay can compound the problem by further hardening the soil structure.

To help keep the soil aerated dig in some Lucerne or Lupins with some well rotted manure. Cow, horse and poultry manure are excellent, but although they all need to be aged before using, poultry manure should at the very least be a few months old before adding to the garden as it is more often than not, high in nitrogen and can also be 'hot'. The safest way is to use these manures on the surface as a mulch and allow them to break down into the soil over time.

You will also need to add some ready mixed fertilizer like blood and bone or a complete rose food, three or four weeks before planting. Keep the area moist, but not wet.

'Building Up' Sandy Soil Soil that has a light or sandy texture will need to have plenty of organic matter added to it. Well rotted manures and compost are the best to use. Allow time to break down before planting.

Planting Planting roses into a well maintained established bed with sufficient drainage shouldn't be a problem providing that the soil has been enriched and the area chosen to plant your rose is clear of competing roots and weeds.

Because the roots of your roses need to be kept well aerated, they will not thrive if they have to compete for root space. Avoid planting your roses close to large trees or shrubs and plants with invasive or large root systems. Fortunately there is a large range of plants that are great companions for roses.

You can purchase roses either in pots, or bare rooted with the roots packed in moist saw dust and wrapped in plastic.Roses in pots are usually more expensive, but have the advantage of having a stronger root system, as well as being able to be planted any time of year. (Although if you live in a hot climate I would recommend that you choose to plant when the weather forecast is for a few days of cooler weather).

Bare rooted roses are available in Autumn and Winter, and should be planted as soon as possible after purchasing. If you are planting in winter and there has been heavy rain or frost, wait until the weather improves.

Water the rose in the container as well as the ground where you are going to plant. Allow to drain so that both the soil in the container and the soil you are planting into are moist. Dig the hole one third larger than the roots in the pot, any larger could result in water collecting.

If you have used manure as a surface mulch, make sure that it does not mix with soil that you use to fill in around the rose, Mixing the soil with a good compost is excellent, but manure is just to strong to make contact with the root system.

Remove the rose gently from the pot, and try not to disturb the root system if you can avoid doing so. Make sure that the top of the potting mix is level with the soil that you are planting into. As with any plant it is important not to bury the main stem below ground level. (One exception to this rule is clematis).With bare rooted roses you will need to mound up the soil at the bottom of the hole and gently arrange the roots around it.

You may also need to cut back damaged or dead roots before planting, making sure that the tools you use are perfectly clean. Handle gently and as little as possible.Fill in the hole, making sure that the soil is firm but not packed down hard as this will restrict the air flow around the roots.Finish by watering well and adding mulch. Make sure that any manure is kept away from the stem of the plant.NEVER plant into muddy, wet soil.

The type of rose and the growing size will determine the amount of space to allow between the roses you are planting.
The following is a generally accepted guide:

Miniatures 30-35cm
Floribundas 60-70cm
Hybrid Tea 60-70cm
Shrub Rose (large) 2m
Shrub Rose (small) 1m
Climbers 1.5-2m
Ramblers 3m
Standard Roses 1.5m


Staking Roses. Weeping or standard roses will need a stake to support them. Stakes will need to be placed in the ground before planting the rose. Hammer the stake firmly in place at the side of the hole.

Tie the rose to the stake so that it's firm but not tight. Ties will cut into the stems of growing roses and this can happen very quickly. Velcro or stretch ties are the best to use.
Climbing roses will need to be tied to a support. Tie to trellis or support firmly but not tightly. Check once a week to adjust the ties or add new ones.

Until next time, all the best and happy rose gardening

Margarete
www.antspantsgardening.com